MOTORISTS could soon be told via their mobile phones that they are speeding thanks to a device created in County Durham.

Enablecom is launching its speed conscience and intelligent speed limiter software that warns drivers when they are speeding and a device that prevents them from exceeding the speed limit.

The company, based in Newton Aycliffe, has already mapped close to 90 per cent of the UK’s major road network – more than 50,000 miles – and expects to reach turnover of £4.5m in five years as motorists turn to its devices to help avoid penalty points on their licences.

The technology used by Enablecom – known as intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) – uses satellite global positioning and digital road maps to detect local speed limits and has been trialled by Transport for London on all roads inside the M25.

Although ISA devices have existed for some time, Enablecom is the first to have incorporated nearly the entire major road network.

The business is launching a passive ISA system downloaded from its website onto GPS-enabled mobile phones, which informs drivers of the speed limit and whether they are complying.

It is also in collaboration with Zeta Automotive, the UK’s leading independent supplier of electronic vehicle control systems, to offer an approved speed limiter, which restricts the speed of the vehicle to the indicated road speed limit and will be available early in the new year.

Gary Martin, a partner with Enablecom, said: “It’s estimated that if ten per cent of vehicles were fitted with intelligent speed limiters, then it would have a widespread effect on traffic speed because other drivers would have to slow down behind them.

“The intelligent speed limiter will be a bit of a Marmite thing, drivers are either going to love them or hate them.

Petrol-heads think they will make people drive like zombies, but there’s a lot of people who want something that will warn or prevent them from speeding, especially on unfamiliar roads.”

Enablecom, which has more than 20 years of experience in business application software, estimates 150,000 downloads of the software over the next five years – approximately 0.5 per cent of all drivers.

Mr Martin added: “Trials with intelligent speed limiters have consistently delivered an eight per cent improvement in fuel performance.

“If you operate a fleet of vehicles, the savings over the year are going to be huge.

“But there’s also the social benefits.

“Motorists have a duty of care to drive safely within the speed limit to reduce accidents and of course, it will help to reduce the carbon footprint.”